OPPOSING A THIRD TERM FOR IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 003347

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2014
TAGS: AORC PARM CA IAEA
SUBJECT: OPPOSING A THIRD TERM FOR IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL
ELBARADEI

REF: SECSTATE 264699

Classified By: POL M/C BRIAN FLORA. REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) In response to ref demarche, Foreign Affairs Canada
Deputy Director for nuclear non-proliferation Terry Wood
re-affirmed to polmiloff that Canada shares USG's view on
limiting the term of the IAEA Director General to two years.
At the same time, Wood said, the next DG must be someone who
enjoys the general support and full confidence of the
membership; a "protracted and messy" process to bring in El
Baradei's successor would not be good for the institution.
Asked if Canada had a successor candidate in mind, Wood
replied in the negative.


2. (C) Wood noted that in a one-on-one meeting with DG El
Baradei on November 18th, FAC Global and Security Affairs
Assistant Deputy Minister Jim Wright encouraged the DG to "do
the right thing" and not/not stand for a third term. El
Baradei reportedly told Wright that there were a lot of
things he could do (for the institution). He said he had
not sought out a third term; rather, other member states
wanted him to do this. Moreover, the DG also said he had not
seen an "unequivocal" response from the U.S. opposing his
third term. The DG felt his support among members was strong
enough that he would be able to defeat any other candidate.


3. (C) Wood said that Canada was mindful of the USG request
for a response by December 15; the Canadian
governmentnonetheless would continue discussing the issue
over the next week. He noted that instructions were sent to
the Canadian Embassy in Washington on Friday to engage
Department contacts (NFI) on this topic. Ottawa was keen to
hear USG's proposed strategy. Wood felt that Step One should
be to open up the position but getting the requisite 12 votes
to do so would not be easy, and at this particular time the
odds did not favor "us." Once El Baradei was "eased out" of
the way, he concluded, it would be much easier to locate a
suitable successor candidate.

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